Something to consider is total percentage of widebodies. I break widebodies into two categories, large widebody and total widebody. Since AA, DAL and UAL all have 767-300’s and all pay them considerably less then large widebodies, I break them into two separate catagories. 767-300’s and Large Widebody (767-400’s & A330 and bigger).

UAL Mainline Fleet

Narrowbody
570

767-300’s
35

Large Widebody
144

Total Widebody
179

Total Fleet
749

Large Widebody Percentage of Total Fleet
19.2%

Total Widebody Percentage of Total Fleet
23.9%

Pilot size 12,500


American Mainline Fleet

Narrowbody
815

767-300
31

Large Widebody
120

Total Widebody
151

Total Fleet
966

Large Widebody Percentage of Total Fleet
12.4%

Total Widebody Percentage of Total Fleet
15.6%

Pilot size 14,500

So UAL has 2,000 less pilots and more total widebodies and large widebodies. If UAL grows to AA’s size (not saying UAL will) you will benefit from more widebodies and sizable growth. More room for growth on the UAL side that plus more widebodies may yield better return vs slightly higher retirements on AA side.

Anyway something else to consider.

My source for fleet info. From UAL a union MEC fleet plan emailed out to pilots last Spring. For the AA fleet count the numbers listed on this website under airline profiles. The listing under airline profiles for United shows the 747-400’s (now parked) and only showed 4 777-300’s (currently have 14 and 4 more coming next year), also showed 6 less 787’s then UAL will have in early 18.